Connecting-rod



(No Model.)

- J. RICHARDS.

CONNECTING ROD.

No. 369,883. Patented Sept. 13, 1887.

' "'Hlillll IJNTTED STATES PATENT EETEE.

JOHN RICHARDS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CONNECTING-ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,883. dated September 13, 1887.

Application filed April 14, 1887. Serial No. 234,749. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JOHN RICHARDS, acitizen of the UnitedStates, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connecting-Rods; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of devices known as connecting-rods forconvertingmotion; and it consists in a connecting rod composed of a continuous strap embracing the boxes or bearings that hold the pins and an expanding-strut interposed between said bearings and acting equally and simultaneously upon both, the strut being so constructed as to present broad bearing-surfaces at each end,

and with one end screw-threaded and provided with an embracing clampingcollar thereon,so that strut and collar are free to turn without affecting the adjustment; and it further consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings,illustrating myinvention, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved connecting-rod constructed in a manner to more particularly adapt it for use with asteam-engine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same in partial section, and Fig. 3 is a side view of a more general view of the invention.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in all the figures.

A denotes a continuous strap, preferably formed in a single piece, which passes around the boxes at each end of the device.

0 E and B D indicate, respectively, the two outer and the two inner boxes at the opposite ends of the connecting-rod, said boxes being fitted to inclose suitable wrist-pins. In cases where the connectingrod is constructed parner and adjustable ones, B and D, are held in position against the pins by means of the strut F. The dowel-pins K L are used for the pur pose of retaining the boxes E and C in place when there is a space left between them and the strap, as shown in the drawings.

The strut F is enlarged in diameter at the end G,where it fits into a recess in the box D, said enlargement being for the purpose of making the area of the end of the strut sufficient to receive and oppose the end-thrust against it when the parts are subjected to heavy strain in tightening up the device. The other end of the strut is screw-threaded for a greater or less distance, and is provided thereon with a screw-collar, H, which fits into a seat in the box B, thus affording a greater area of surface to resist the thrust on this end of the strut.

The screw-collar H is divided transversely at M, and on each side of this division are formed enlargements having screw-threaded holes, through which passes the clam ping-screw I. By loosening the collar and revolving it on the rod F the bearings B and D are moved accordingly, and when the requisite adjustment has been made the collar is firmly clamped by the screw I, so that no movement can take place on the strut F when the connecting-rod is in use. Thus the collar is held by compression on the screw-threads instead of by jam-nuts or other means where the friction between radial surfaces is relied upon to prevent the screws from becoming loose when the rod is in motion.

It is evident that with thisconstruction the means by which the parts are adjusted in tightening or loosening are independent of the means which retain and secure the parts in the adjusted position. When the device is in operation, there is no tendency to loosen the clamp which binds the collar upon its screwed bearing, and the whole of the screw-threaded surface receives equally the strains upon the strut F, while the latter is free to revolve without in any way affecting the adjustment. This construction also permits the enlarge ment of the bearing areas to suit the amount of strain on the strut F.

I am aware that heretofore connecting-rods have been made with continuous embracingstraps and with expanding-struts interposed between the boxes. I do not,therefore,broadly claim such features as new; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. In a connecting-rod, the combination, with the embracing-strap,of the strut and the divided collar and its clamping means, substantially as described.

2. In a connecting-rod the embracing-strap, in combination with a strut having enlarged extremities, one of which is provided with a split screw-collar having clamping means,substantially as described.

3. The combination, With the embracing- 15' strap'and the boxes for receiving the pins, of an interposed expanding-strut having a divided screw-collar provided with clamping means, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the strap A. boxes B 20 C and D E, strut F, and screw-collar H,having clamping-screw I, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

- JOHN RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIST, SAMUEL McADAMs. 

